Influence of institutional and technical factors on market choices of smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley
- Jari, Bridget, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472999 , vital:77597 , ISBN 9789086861682 , 10.3920/978-90-8686-168-2
- Description: In the age of trade liberalisation and globalisation, the world markets are increasingly being integrated. This implies that farmers in the developing world are ever more linked to consumers and corporations of the rich nations. Consequently, local farmers are facing increasing market competition, not only in international markets but in local markets as well. In an effort to withstand the market pressures, agricultural markets are now transforming to a vertically coordinated structure (Reardon and Barrett, 2000). In addition, both the private and the public sectors have made some adjustments in agricultural markets, in order to survive competition resulting from market changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472999 , vital:77597 , ISBN 9789086861682 , 10.3920/978-90-8686-168-2
- Description: In the age of trade liberalisation and globalisation, the world markets are increasingly being integrated. This implies that farmers in the developing world are ever more linked to consumers and corporations of the rich nations. Consequently, local farmers are facing increasing market competition, not only in international markets but in local markets as well. In an effort to withstand the market pressures, agricultural markets are now transforming to a vertically coordinated structure (Reardon and Barrett, 2000). In addition, both the private and the public sectors have made some adjustments in agricultural markets, in order to survive competition resulting from market changes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Institutional economics and the environment
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006130
- Description: [From text] What is Institutional Economics? Before delving into the concept of institutional economics, it will be useful to explain what is meant by institutions because institutions in economics have a particular meaning. The most commonly agreed upon definition for institutions is a set of formal and informal rules of conduct that facilitate coordination or govern relationships between individuals or groups. The formal rules include laws, contracts, political systems, organisations, and markets, while the informal rules of conduct consist of norms, traditions, customs, value systems, religions and sociological trends. Institutions provide for more certainty in human interaction (North, 1990) and have an influence on outcomes such as economic performance, efficiency, economic growth and development. They can either benefit or hinder these economic measures. Williamson (2000) noted that new institutional economics operates at both the macro and micro levels. The macro level deals with the institutional environment, or the rules of the game, which affect the behaviour and performance of economic actors and in which organisational forms and transactions are embedded. Williamson (1993) described it as the set of fundamental political, social and legal ground rules that establish the basis for production, exchange and distribution. The micro level analysis known as the institutional arrangement, on the other hand, deals with the institutions of governance. These refer to the modes of managing transaction costs and include issues of social capital, property rights and collective action. Here the focus is on the individual transaction and the questions regarding organisational forms (private property versus common pool resources) are analysed. An institutional arrangement is an arrangement between economic units that govern the ways in which its members can co-operate or compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2012
- Language: English
- Type: Text
- Identifier: vital:573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006130
- Description: [From text] What is Institutional Economics? Before delving into the concept of institutional economics, it will be useful to explain what is meant by institutions because institutions in economics have a particular meaning. The most commonly agreed upon definition for institutions is a set of formal and informal rules of conduct that facilitate coordination or govern relationships between individuals or groups. The formal rules include laws, contracts, political systems, organisations, and markets, while the informal rules of conduct consist of norms, traditions, customs, value systems, religions and sociological trends. Institutions provide for more certainty in human interaction (North, 1990) and have an influence on outcomes such as economic performance, efficiency, economic growth and development. They can either benefit or hinder these economic measures. Williamson (2000) noted that new institutional economics operates at both the macro and micro levels. The macro level deals with the institutional environment, or the rules of the game, which affect the behaviour and performance of economic actors and in which organisational forms and transactions are embedded. Williamson (1993) described it as the set of fundamental political, social and legal ground rules that establish the basis for production, exchange and distribution. The micro level analysis known as the institutional arrangement, on the other hand, deals with the institutions of governance. These refer to the modes of managing transaction costs and include issues of social capital, property rights and collective action. Here the focus is on the individual transaction and the questions regarding organisational forms (private property versus common pool resources) are analysed. An institutional arrangement is an arrangement between economic units that govern the ways in which its members can co-operate or compete.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
The Impact of contaminated fertilizer on pineapple growers in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Hill, Gary, Fraser, Gavin C G, Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S
- Authors: Hill, Gary , Fraser, Gavin C G , Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473055 , vital:77602 , https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR11.1023
- Description: A framework has been established to determine the economic impact of contaminated fertilizer on pineapple growers in the Eastern Cape. Farmers in the region unwittingly made use of contaminated fertilizer which infected pineapples with higher than permissible levels of the heavy metal toxin, cadmium. The fruit was deemed unfit for use, translating into large financial losses for growers and influencing all participants in the industry. The pineapple trade was devastated. Pineapple production costs and revenues are adapted from previous studies as much of the necessary data was sub judice because of the pending legal action. Despite the problems with data, it was established that the farming operations were severely compromised because of the contamination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Hill, Gary , Fraser, Gavin C G , Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473055 , vital:77602 , https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR11.1023
- Description: A framework has been established to determine the economic impact of contaminated fertilizer on pineapple growers in the Eastern Cape. Farmers in the region unwittingly made use of contaminated fertilizer which infected pineapples with higher than permissible levels of the heavy metal toxin, cadmium. The fruit was deemed unfit for use, translating into large financial losses for growers and influencing all participants in the industry. The pineapple trade was devastated. Pineapple production costs and revenues are adapted from previous studies as much of the necessary data was sub judice because of the pending legal action. Despite the problems with data, it was established that the farming operations were severely compromised because of the contamination.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Unlocking markets to smallholders: Lessons from South Africa
- Schalkwyk, H D V, Obi, A, Tilburg, A V, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Schalkwyk, H D V , Obi, A , Tilburg, A V , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472833 , vital:77577 , ISBN 9789086861682 , 10.3920/978-90-8686-168-2
- Description: This book assesses the institutional, technical and market constraints as well as opportunities for smallholders, notably, emerging farmers in disadvantaged areas such as the former homelands of South Africa. Emerging farmers are previously disadvantaged black people who started or will start their business with the support of special government programs. Public support programs have been developed as part of the Black Economic Empowerment strategy of the South African government. These programs aim to improve the performance of emerging farmers. This requires, first and foremost, upgrading the emerging farmers skills by providing access to knowledge about agricultural and entrepreneurial practices. To become or to remain good farmers they also need access to suitable agricultural land and sufficient water for irrigation and for feeding their cattle. Finally, for emerging farmers to be engaged in viable farming operations, various factors need to be in place such as marketing and service institutions to give credit for agricultural inputs and investments; input markets for farm machinery, farm implements, fertilizers and quality seeds; and accessible output markets for their end products. This book develops a policy framework and potential institutional responses to unlock the relevant markets for smallholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Schalkwyk, H D V , Obi, A , Tilburg, A V , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472833 , vital:77577 , ISBN 9789086861682 , 10.3920/978-90-8686-168-2
- Description: This book assesses the institutional, technical and market constraints as well as opportunities for smallholders, notably, emerging farmers in disadvantaged areas such as the former homelands of South Africa. Emerging farmers are previously disadvantaged black people who started or will start their business with the support of special government programs. Public support programs have been developed as part of the Black Economic Empowerment strategy of the South African government. These programs aim to improve the performance of emerging farmers. This requires, first and foremost, upgrading the emerging farmers skills by providing access to knowledge about agricultural and entrepreneurial practices. To become or to remain good farmers they also need access to suitable agricultural land and sufficient water for irrigation and for feeding their cattle. Finally, for emerging farmers to be engaged in viable farming operations, various factors need to be in place such as marketing and service institutions to give credit for agricultural inputs and investments; input markets for farm machinery, farm implements, fertilizers and quality seeds; and accessible output markets for their end products. This book develops a policy framework and potential institutional responses to unlock the relevant markets for smallholders.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Vulnerability and poverty dynamics in rural areas of Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473079 , vital:77604 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjds/article/view/74661
- Description: If the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. This study analyses determinants of household poverty dynamics in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa using a panel dataset on a representative sample of 300 rural households in the Amathole District Municipality. The result of the study shows a significant flow in and out of poverty, which is a sign of vulnerability. While 63% of the sampled households are poor (ex post), while 48% are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the probit model indicates that age, level of education and household heads’ occupation, dependency ratio, remittance/diversified income base, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining households’ vulnerability to poverty. Implications for policy are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473079 , vital:77604 , https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjds/article/view/74661
- Description: If the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. This study analyses determinants of household poverty dynamics in rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa using a panel dataset on a representative sample of 300 rural households in the Amathole District Municipality. The result of the study shows a significant flow in and out of poverty, which is a sign of vulnerability. While 63% of the sampled households are poor (ex post), while 48% are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the probit model indicates that age, level of education and household heads’ occupation, dependency ratio, remittance/diversified income base, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining households’ vulnerability to poverty. Implications for policy are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Determinants of household poverty dynamics in rural regions of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471254 , vital:77434 , ISBN , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/97078/?v=pdf
- Description: Poverty has always been studied in a world of certainty. However, if the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. For thinking about appropriate forward-looking anti-poverty interventions (i.e. interventions that aim to prevent or reduce future poverty rather than alleviate current poverty), the critical need then is to go beyond a cataloging of who is currently poor and who is not, to an assessment of households’ vulnerability to poverty. This study analyses a panel dataset on a representative sample of 150 rural households interviewed in 2007 and 2008 in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province to empirical assess the dynamics of poverty and estimate the determinants of households’ vulnerability to poverty. The result of the study indicates that the number of vulnerable households is significantly larger than for the currently poor households; the vulnerability index was found to be 0,62 compared to 0,56 headcount index in 2008. This implies that while 56 percent of the sampled households are poor (ex post) in 2008, 62 percent are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the Probit model shows that the age, level of education and occupation of the household head, dependency ratio, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining a households’ vulnerability to poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , report
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/471254 , vital:77434 , ISBN , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/97078/?v=pdf
- Description: Poverty has always been studied in a world of certainty. However, if the aim of studying poverty is not only improving the well-being of households who are currently poor, but also preventing people from becoming poor in the future, a new forward looking perspective must be adopted. For thinking about appropriate forward-looking anti-poverty interventions (i.e. interventions that aim to prevent or reduce future poverty rather than alleviate current poverty), the critical need then is to go beyond a cataloging of who is currently poor and who is not, to an assessment of households’ vulnerability to poverty. This study analyses a panel dataset on a representative sample of 150 rural households interviewed in 2007 and 2008 in the Amathole District Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province to empirical assess the dynamics of poverty and estimate the determinants of households’ vulnerability to poverty. The result of the study indicates that the number of vulnerable households is significantly larger than for the currently poor households; the vulnerability index was found to be 0,62 compared to 0,56 headcount index in 2008. This implies that while 56 percent of the sampled households are poor (ex post) in 2008, 62 percent are vulnerable to becoming poor (ex ante) in future. The result of the Probit model shows that the age, level of education and occupation of the household head, dependency ratio, exposure to idiosyncratic risks and access to credit are statistically significant in explaining a households’ vulnerability to poverty.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Foreign direct investment in the agriculture sector of South Africa: do GDP and exports determine locational inflows?
- Dlamini, Thula S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473130 , vital:77609 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC21499
- Description: This study investigates the causal link between agricultural foreign direct investment (FDI), agricultural exports, and agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa for the period 1994 - 2006. The central goal of this paper is to answer the question of whether there exists any complementary relationships or not between the two sets of variables. The paper utilizes the Granger causality method and the error correction method (ECM), in a bivariate setting. The results show that while there is a bi-directional causality from FDI to exports, there is only one-way causality from GDP to FDI. Rather than FDI stimulating agricultural productivity, agricultural productivity stimulates FDI. Thus, an increase in agricultural productivity is envisaged to yield increased FDI in the agricultural sector of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Dlamini, Thula S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473130 , vital:77609 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC21499
- Description: This study investigates the causal link between agricultural foreign direct investment (FDI), agricultural exports, and agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa for the period 1994 - 2006. The central goal of this paper is to answer the question of whether there exists any complementary relationships or not between the two sets of variables. The paper utilizes the Granger causality method and the error correction method (ECM), in a bivariate setting. The results show that while there is a bi-directional causality from FDI to exports, there is only one-way causality from GDP to FDI. Rather than FDI stimulating agricultural productivity, agricultural productivity stimulates FDI. Thus, an increase in agricultural productivity is envisaged to yield increased FDI in the agricultural sector of South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
How the leopard has changed its spots: past dynamics and future opportunities
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472988 , vital:77596 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC18437
- Description: I feel very humbled being afforded the opportunity to present the FR Tomlinson Commemorative Lecture. In the process of preparing this lecture, I looked up the previous presenters of the lecture and saw the names of eminent agricultural economists who have made major contributions to the subject in South Africa. I feel extremely proud to be included in such a prominent group and it made me to feel somewhat of an interloper amongst the likes of, inter alia, FR Tomlinson, Eckart Kassier, Lieb Nieuwoudt and Johan van Zyl.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472988 , vital:77596 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC18437
- Description: I feel very humbled being afforded the opportunity to present the FR Tomlinson Commemorative Lecture. In the process of preparing this lecture, I looked up the previous presenters of the lecture and saw the names of eminent agricultural economists who have made major contributions to the subject in South Africa. I feel extremely proud to be included in such a prominent group and it made me to feel somewhat of an interloper amongst the likes of, inter alia, FR Tomlinson, Eckart Kassier, Lieb Nieuwoudt and Johan van Zyl.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Influence of institutional factors on smallholder farmers’ marketing channel choices
- Jari, Bridget, Fraser, Gavin C G, Obi, A
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G , Obi, A
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473010 , vital:77598 , ISBN 978-90-8686-132-3 , https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/68924
- Description: Smallholder farmers are faced with a range of institutional challenges in produce marketing. In turn, these challenges influence their selection of marketing channels. In this chapter, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to test the significance of institutional factors in marketing. The results are based on a case study for smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, in South Africa. It is shown that the statistically significant variables are access to market information, expertise on grades and standards, availability of contractual agreements, existence of extensive social capital, group participation and reliance on traditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G , Obi, A
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , book
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/473010 , vital:77598 , ISBN 978-90-8686-132-3 , https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/68924
- Description: Smallholder farmers are faced with a range of institutional challenges in produce marketing. In turn, these challenges influence their selection of marketing channels. In this chapter, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to test the significance of institutional factors in marketing. The results are based on a case study for smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, in South Africa. It is shown that the statistically significant variables are access to market information, expertise on grades and standards, availability of contractual agreements, existence of extensive social capital, group participation and reliance on traditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in the Eastern Cape:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143067 , vital:38198 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1994.9524779
- Description: Selected cases in developing entrepreneurship in small-scale subsistence and commercial agriculture in the Eastern Cape are examined, including the provision of marketing facilities, the training programme of the Africa Cooperative Action Trust (ACAT) in Ciskei, government sponsored irrigation projects and the farmer support programme. An attempt is made to draw general conclusions about the necessary ingredients for successful entrepreneurship and the formulation of proposals for further promoting entrepreneurship in agriculture in South Africa.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
Resource use efficiency in sole sorghum production in three villages of Kaduna State, Nigeria
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Chikwendu, D O, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Chikwendu, D O , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470989 , vital:77406 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: In explaining the differences in the efficiency of farms, it is necessary to look into the use of resources to show the close links existing between the performance attained from resources on individual farms and efficient allocation of resources between farms of different sizes. This study estimates the productivity of farm resources on small and large scale farms in three villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Production data were collected using a structure questionnaire from a representative sample of 78 sorghum farmers. The study used the double log production function to determine the relationship between farm resources and the efficiency of resource use. Empirical results showed that seed, fertilizer and labour inputs are statistically significant in explaining the variation in sorghum output in the study area. However the estimates of the ratio of the marginal value productivities (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC), point clearly to the non optimal combination of inputs among the farmers, it showed that the farm resources were inefficiently utilized for sole sorghum production by small and large scale farmers, hence, the need for resource adjustment. Implications for regional and national food policies are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Chikwendu, D O , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470989 , vital:77406 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: In explaining the differences in the efficiency of farms, it is necessary to look into the use of resources to show the close links existing between the performance attained from resources on individual farms and efficient allocation of resources between farms of different sizes. This study estimates the productivity of farm resources on small and large scale farms in three villages of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Production data were collected using a structure questionnaire from a representative sample of 78 sorghum farmers. The study used the double log production function to determine the relationship between farm resources and the efficiency of resource use. Empirical results showed that seed, fertilizer and labour inputs are statistically significant in explaining the variation in sorghum output in the study area. However the estimates of the ratio of the marginal value productivities (MVP) and marginal factor cost (MFC), point clearly to the non optimal combination of inputs among the farmers, it showed that the farm resources were inefficiently utilized for sole sorghum production by small and large scale farmers, hence, the need for resource adjustment. Implications for regional and national food policies are discussed.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
The effects of economic incentives in controlling pollution in the South African leather industry: die uitwerking van ekonomiese insentiewe op die beheer van besoedeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse leerbedryf
- Mowat, Shaun P, Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Mowat, Shaun P , Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143057 , vital:38197 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1997.9523487
- Description: Pollution of the environment is becoming an increasingly serious problem. A large contributor to this is industry which generates effluent as a by-product of its production process. Two methods of controlling the pollution generated by industry are the so-called “command and control” techniques and economic incentives. In theory, economic incentives promise a more economically efficient and equitable means of pollution control. This paper sets out to ascertain whether this would hold in practice by applying environmental economic theory to the practical problem of controlling the effluent generated by one particular industry, viz the South African leather industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Mowat, Shaun P , Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2010
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143057 , vital:38197 , DOI: 10.1080/03031853.1997.9523487
- Description: Pollution of the environment is becoming an increasingly serious problem. A large contributor to this is industry which generates effluent as a by-product of its production process. Two methods of controlling the pollution generated by industry are the so-called “command and control” techniques and economic incentives. In theory, economic incentives promise a more economically efficient and equitable means of pollution control. This paper sets out to ascertain whether this would hold in practice by applying environmental economic theory to the practical problem of controlling the effluent generated by one particular industry, viz the South African leather industry.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
An analysis of institutional and technical factors influencing agricultural marketing amongst smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Jari, Bridget, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Jari, Bridget , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/470978 , vital:77405 , https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR
- Description: Smallholder farmers in the Kat River Valley do not use output markets effectively due to a number of factors. The technical and institutional factors that demoralise them from marketing are identified in this paper. It is asserted that an explicit analysis in the relationship between technology, institutions and markets may be useful in developing livelihood improving programs. Therefore, by identifying such factors, the paper seeks to find out ways of improving market participation among the smallholders, hence, livelihood development. The multinomial regression model was used to investigate the factors that influence marketing choices among smallholder and emerging farmers in the area under study. Empirical results show that market information, expertise on grades and standards, contractual agreements, social capital, market infrastructure, group participation and tradition significantly influence household marketing behaviour.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Profitability in sorghum production in three villages of Kaduna State, Nigeria
- Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472720 , vital:77566
- Description: Poverty in Nigeria is overwhelmingly a rural problem. In 1985, 86.6 percent of those living below poverty line of US $1 per day were in the agricultural sector. This figure dropped to 66 per cent in 1992. However, of the total population of poor people in 1992, 10 million were living in the rural areas and are engaged in farming. Nigerian small-scale farmers are characterized by the use of unimproved inputs and traditional production tools that are capable of generating only very small incomes. This low income of the farmers leads to vicious cycle of poverty with low levels of savings and investments, which in turn leads to low productivity and low income. In explaining the poverty status of farmers, it is necessary to look into the profitability of their farm enterprise to show the close links existing between productivity and farm income. This study attempts to estimate the profitability of sole sorghum production on small and large scale farms, it uses the gross margin analysis to determine the farm income on small and large scale farms. Empirical results indicate that the farmers are making profits, given the benefits relative to costs involved in sorghum production on both the small and large scale farms. To fully tap the potential of increase productivity and farm income, the study surmises that expanded access to improved technologies on sorghum production should be extended to the farmers through extension services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
- Authors: Baiyegunhi, Lloyd J S , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 2009
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/472720 , vital:77566
- Description: Poverty in Nigeria is overwhelmingly a rural problem. In 1985, 86.6 percent of those living below poverty line of US $1 per day were in the agricultural sector. This figure dropped to 66 per cent in 1992. However, of the total population of poor people in 1992, 10 million were living in the rural areas and are engaged in farming. Nigerian small-scale farmers are characterized by the use of unimproved inputs and traditional production tools that are capable of generating only very small incomes. This low income of the farmers leads to vicious cycle of poverty with low levels of savings and investments, which in turn leads to low productivity and low income. In explaining the poverty status of farmers, it is necessary to look into the profitability of their farm enterprise to show the close links existing between productivity and farm income. This study attempts to estimate the profitability of sole sorghum production on small and large scale farms, it uses the gross margin analysis to determine the farm income on small and large scale farms. Empirical results indicate that the farmers are making profits, given the benefits relative to costs involved in sorghum production on both the small and large scale farms. To fully tap the potential of increase productivity and farm income, the study surmises that expanded access to improved technologies on sorghum production should be extended to the farmers through extension services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
The market for commercial farm land in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa as a means of redistribution:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143024 , vital:38194 , DOI: 10.4314/rosas.v3i1.22991
- Description: The election promise of the majority party in the new South African government was to redistribute 30% of the agricultural land in the hands of Whites within a period of 5 years. Transfers of land in the Eastern Cape Province are examined as a case study. While 60% of the total number of Eastern Cape farms changed hands over 5 years, these constituted only 19% of the surface area. A large proportion of rural transfers were small (less than 5 hectares) peri-urban properties which cannot all be considered as viable farming units. At average prices about R1 to R2 billion would be required to establish new farmers on land with the necessary livestock, machinery and equipment. Resource poor new entrants would need a major state contribution to make initial entry and subsequent survival feasible. To achieve their goal through market transfers the government would need to either substantially lengthen its time horizon or lower its target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1999
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143024 , vital:38194 , DOI: 10.4314/rosas.v3i1.22991
- Description: The election promise of the majority party in the new South African government was to redistribute 30% of the agricultural land in the hands of Whites within a period of 5 years. Transfers of land in the Eastern Cape Province are examined as a case study. While 60% of the total number of Eastern Cape farms changed hands over 5 years, these constituted only 19% of the surface area. A large proportion of rural transfers were small (less than 5 hectares) peri-urban properties which cannot all be considered as viable farming units. At average prices about R1 to R2 billion would be required to establish new farmers on land with the necessary livestock, machinery and equipment. Resource poor new entrants would need a major state contribution to make initial entry and subsequent survival feasible. To achieve their goal through market transfers the government would need to either substantially lengthen its time horizon or lower its target.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena:
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G, Tapson, D R
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G , Tapson, D R
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143035 , vital:38195 , https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.agro-article-dc77672d-7269-4641-bf99-605eaa5fe369
- Description: Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G , Tapson, D R
- Date: 1998
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143035 , vital:38195 , https://www.infona.pl/resource/bwmeta1.element.agro-article-dc77672d-7269-4641-bf99-605eaa5fe369
- Description: Problems in rural transformation in South Africa specifically in the land reform arena
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1998
Role of agricultural marketing in transforming subsistence agriculture: African Case Study
- Antrobus, Geoffrey G, Fraser, Gavin C G
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143112 , vital:38202 , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/197714/
- Description: A lack of agricultural marketing facilities is generally seen as one of the major obstacles to agricultural development. However, subsistence producers in southern Africa are influenced by certain exogeneous factors, such as competition from commercial production, the well-developed marketing system, and off-farm employment opportunities in South Africa. This paper studies the effect of the institution of an organized marketing system in Ciskei on the level of agricultural production. This is found to have had no significant effect because the majority of the able-bodied males are working in the metropolitan areas of South Africa. This has resulted in agriculture becoming a part-time supplementary activity for women, old men, and children in the rural areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989
- Authors: Antrobus, Geoffrey G , Fraser, Gavin C G
- Date: 1989
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143112 , vital:38202 , https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/197714/
- Description: A lack of agricultural marketing facilities is generally seen as one of the major obstacles to agricultural development. However, subsistence producers in southern Africa are influenced by certain exogeneous factors, such as competition from commercial production, the well-developed marketing system, and off-farm employment opportunities in South Africa. This paper studies the effect of the institution of an organized marketing system in Ciskei on the level of agricultural production. This is found to have had no significant effect because the majority of the able-bodied males are working in the metropolitan areas of South Africa. This has resulted in agriculture becoming a part-time supplementary activity for women, old men, and children in the rural areas.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1989